Today in Queen Bess's Life

On this day in 1533, King Henry VIII (Elizabeth's father) married his second wife, Anne Boleyn (Elizabeth's mother).

It was a courtship that lasted a little over four years as Henry tried to work out the details of divorcing from his first Queen, Catherine of Aragon.  During that time, Henry did not hold back when writing love letters to his beloved:

"It is absolutely necessary for me to obtain this answer, having been for above a whole year stricken with the dart of love, and not yet sure whether I shall fail of finding a place in your heart and affection..."

On Henry's part at least, it seems that the union was born out of love.  The cynical believe it was solely for the purpose of providing Henry his much wanted (and needed) male heir -- though that was part of the objective -- that his first Queen could not provide.  Others contend that Anne was not in love with him but was the pawn of her greedy, social climbing family that saw her position of Queen as a means to gain social status and the wealth that comes with the favours of a generous King.

Whether or not the marriage was a result of politics, the impact on politics was profound.  Henry was eventually excommunicated from the Roman Catholic Church by Pope Paul III.  Not to be deterred, Henry installed himself Supreme Head of the Church of England.

Willing or not, I can't help but believe that Anne had no idea the impact her marriage would have on the world.